Archive for: August 2014

The United Nations protection camps in the middle of government controlled areas in South Sudan are frankly speaking prisons of President Salva Kiir managed by the UN and funded by the western world tax payers.

I sit here and think: how on earth could a world body with the ability to master enough power from its member states to hold the feral leaders of South Sudan accountable have allowed itself to be reduced to prison warders and happily it goes along with it.

The initial decision of the UN in December 2013 to protect civilians by opening its gates wide is a commendable act and it must be praised. However, these camps should not have been allowed to morph into prisons holding totally innocent people who have not committed any crimes apart from being born members of certain targeted ethnicities.

While the UN is honoring its duty to protect the right to life, it has through the back door been pushed to violate other human rights of those it is protecting by acting as prison warders for the feral dictator of South Sudan.

President Salva Kiir must be laughing his head off for turning a world body into his own instrument of oppression.

Look at it, technically the UN in South Sudan is now complicit in the abuse of South Sudanese by its own naive acceptance to protect without immediately holding the criminals to account and letting itself become a violator of its own ideals of human rights.

For example, life in these UN protection camps as spoken about by the aid agencies can easily be classified as inhumane. Please see, ‘Horrific conditions in flooded UN camp’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28714774 and ‘South Sudan’s New War: abuses by government and opposition forces’ http://www.hrw.org/node/126088

With all these violations going on, the super powers of the world are paying a blind eye.

Well, these may be only Africans suffering and given the perception that has clouded the literature and interaction of the developed world and the third world, the appalling conditions of the South Sudanese in the UN camps may not be seen as deserving attention to invoke the instruments relating to grave violations of human rights.

Obviously, the curse of oil and natural resources may have something to do with the unacknowledged abuse of South Sudanese by their dictator leaders.

IGAD is complicit in advancing and promoting the neglect of the rights of South Sudanese by pretending that it can solve the problems of South Sudan.

Their trumpeted slogan of “African solutions for African problems” is a vehicle for the world powers to hide behind from their global responsibility to stamp justice in South Sudan. A responsibility, some of these powers are happy to embrace when advancing their own interest, but not in the service of humanity as in the case of South Sudan.

The African solutions the IGAD pride itself on to say the least are product of malicious mind designed to protect the abusers. After all, IGAD membership has some of the worst dictators in Africa.

Logically, how can any reasonable person expect a club dominated by some vile dictators solve a problem created by one of them? This is like accusing a fox who has stolen and eaten chickens to a leader of skulk howling about Fox solutions to fox problems with expectation of a just solution.

Let us look at their African solutions for South Sudan. IGAD is convinced that if it can reconcile the various warring factions of the SPLM, South Sudan will return to peace. Please see, ‘The solution of South Sudan’s political problems lies in new blood’ http://allafrica.com/stories/201404040507.html and ‘IGAD’s inadequate strategy in South Sudan’ http://allafrica.com/stories/201404140864.html

In spite of the fact that this position is not supported by any evidence, they plough on with it while the damage on the lives of the innocent in South Sudan goes on.

Now in Addis Ababa the warring parties with the blessing of IGAD are being allowed to negotiate themselves out of their grave crimes against humanity and return into power at the expense of the people (victims).

Really, if the over 20,000 people killed in Juba; the over 100,000 people in the UN Protection prison camps; the over 400,000 people pushed into refuge in neighbouring countries; and the over 1,300,000 people displaced internally was to happen in the other continents, would the powers that be not intervene decisively and swiftly to right the wrong?

When less than a 1000 people were killed in Bosnia, the world powers immediately intervened, saved lives and held the culprits to account.

Why is the world then not decisive to end the abuse of the South Sudanese people? Why are the powers that be pampering the feral leaders of South Sudan whose hands are dripping with blood of innocent people?

Why do the powers that be talk about ineffective sanctions and condoning the imprisonment of the innocent victims in those UN protection prison camps without a solution in sight?

The abuses in South Sudan should not only be localised for this may be the beginning of dictators around the world and specifically in Africa acquiring the tools of how to trash the instruments of human rights that took centuries to build.

Some may be gleefully rubbing their hands and thinking about how to abuse certain ethnicities that they abhor for whatever reasons or another.

The activities of dictators and non state actors in many parts of the world if allowed to go unchecked as it is being allowed in South Sudan in the long run may plunge the world into total chaos.

When world bodies are co-opted into the machine of abuse and terror like UN in South Sudan, something is seriously wrong with the mores of the global community embodied in this organisation. This poses a real challenge to the moral fabric of the world. Therefore, the UN and the world powers need to rethink their position on South Sudan.

Like late musician Michael Jackson sang in his famous song, ‘Man in mirror’. “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.”

It is time that the moral of the world is restored before feral leaders around the globe begin to trash the current structures in place for world peace. Thus, UN must stop shouldering the role of prison management in South Sudan by intervening appropriately and decisively.

The South Sudan conflict and the recommended process to address it challenge the moral of the world. If all the ideals that are at the core of human rights ideology intended for advancement of society built in the last 300 years are not to wear off then the world truly needs to do something radical to address it.

The structures for maintenance of world peace erected initially in 1920 and later on replaced by the United Nations after the Second World War risk being gradually destroyed by cynical actions of dictators and non state actors in different parts of the globe. For example, the case of South Sudan is a typical one.

The universality of humanity is now parcelled into relative geographical regions without emphasis on the rights of humanity as stipulated in the various instruments.

Under this arrangement it is easy for the powerful countries or the supposed guardians of the world to turn blind eyes to the grave crimes against humanity in faraway lands like South Sudan.

The new buzz words and phrases are “African solutions for African problems”. What this presupposes is that if Africans are massacring themselves, that remains their problem and the world needs not to intervene.

In South Sudan, a monster slaughters children, women and elderly in broad day light in their tenth of thousands and displaces over million people causing serious regional problem, unbelievably it stirs no moral outrage whatsoever in the conscience of the custodians of the world.

In relation to Africans, the question that has been asked for centuries remains truly valid today: has the life of an African any value? Are the decisions taken by the custodian of the world really not clouded by the beliefs of “them” and “us”, “civilised” and “savage” developed world and the third world?

Else why is the death of tenth of thousands of African people down played by the western media and not taken seriously as it should to draw the attention of the world?

IGAD has been a total failure and numerous calls for it to be discarded and replaced by eminent persons have been met with deaf ears. The shameful failure of IGAD is capped by the passing of its deadline on 10th August 2014 in relation to formation of interim government in South Sudan.

The United Nations Security Council’s recent visit to the region though understands the situation it still puts faith on the hopeless process. “The council has made it very clear that it is prepared to impose consequence if there continues to be spoilers, if there continues to be people carrying out gross violations of human rights.”

“We will not tolerate violations of cessation of hostility and people who spoil peace agreement. We have delivered that message here and will deliver it to Riek Machar.” Stressed Samantha Powers of UNSC. Please see, ‘South Sudanese president vows to form all inclusive cabinet, http://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article52014 and ‘UN Security Council visit to South Sudan’ file:///C:/Users/Rosemary/Downloads/08-14%2520UNSC%2520Press%2520Stakeout%2520Transcript.pdf

Samantha Powers is a well known committed advocate of human rights. Powers words should be taken seriously. However, her comments in Juba missed the point completely. The issue is not “if there continues to be people carrying out gross violations of human rights.”

The violations have already been committed en masse in December 2013 and they continue to be committed daily. For example, the imprisonment of over 100,000 innocent people in the UN Protection camps.

Does the subjection of these people to confinement due to terror from President Kiir’s government not constitute ongoing gross violation of human rights? If it is not then the people of South Sudan and I do not know what it is.

Uganda’s UPDF, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) of Darfur and SPLM North of the Sudan remain in the country actively participating in military operations against SPLM-IO. Why is the UN quiet about this violation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement?

Why does it not demand the withdrawal of all foreign forces as stipulated in the agreement? Is this not a constant standing violation by South Sudan government and IGAD of the agreement? What more violation of the agreement does UNSC want?

Therefore, the time for “ifs” is long gone. It is time for compliance and action. It is time for consequences and accountability. It is this point that the UNSC has missed.

The entire SPLM leadership are responsible for the mayhem in South Sudan. They need to be dragged to court to account for their collective crimes against the people of South Sudan arising from gross negligence of their beloved party and the management of the country.

SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, SPLM-G10 and their military chiefs should be facing honourable and respectable international judges and not pussyfoot with mediators intent on rewarding them for their crimes against the people of South Sudan.

President Salva Kiir by default is benefiting from the cultures that led to colonisation of Africa. He is getting away with mass murder because the South Sudanese Africans have been deemed to have no value.

No wonder President Kiir is able to convert UN into a prison management agency.

Ironically, the very regional body (IGAD) that is tasked to solve the problem of South Sudan is ignorant of its own position and responsibilities while promoting subtly laid down discriminatory approaches under nonsense like “African solutions for African problems.”

If the structures of the world are based on instruments whose foundation is anchored in universalism like globalisation, then the right slogan should be “global solutions for global problems.”

Under such a slogan, feral leaders like President Kiir would not get away with crimes of similar magnitude committed by Slobodan Milosevic, General Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. After all, the entire world is supposed to be a global melting pot.
[Truth hurts but is also liberating]

IN SUMMARY:-
*The current oil output is half of what South Sudan was producing before the war broke out in December last year.
*The biggest oil production wells in northern Upper Nile and Malakal have shut down, and only the Faloch oil well in Unity State is producing oil.
*Earlier in the year, rebel leader Riek Machar said that the oil fields were targets for his forces and that revenues generated from oil sales should be placed in independent coffers. *He accused the government, which he served till July 2013, of corruption and mismanagement of oil money.

POSTED ON SSN, AUG/16/2014;

The South Sudanese government is struggling to stay afloat as months of fighting with rebels loyal to former vice president Riek Machar have halted oil production, the lifeline of the country’s economy.

Currently, the country is not in position to pay its debts, amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars borrowed from the oil companies, and yet it plans to borrow another $1 billion to fund the budget for 2014/2015, read last week.

The current oil output is half of what South Sudan was producing before the war broke out in December last year. Its revenues are thus expected to drop by more than 60 per cent to about $200 million.

“All oil fields, except one, have been shut down. And as you know, 98 per cent of funding for government budget comes from oil revenues,” South Sudan’s acting ambassador to Uganda Micheal Amanamoi told The EastAfrican.

He confirmed that oil production had decreased to 15,000 barrels per day from 30,000. The biggest oil production wells in northern Upper Nile and Malakal have shut down, and only the Faloch oil well in Unity State is producing oil, Mr Amanamoi said.

“We were caught off guard; even the non-oil revenue sources are not generating enough revenue. The government is now selling the oil before it is pumped out. We are getting the funds to run the country through promises to oil companies,” Mr Amanamoi revealed. “This has gone on since the war broke out, especially revenue to pay civil servants’ salaries and provide social services.”

Earlier in the year, rebel leader Riek Machar said that the oil fields were targets for his forces and that revenues generated from oil sales should be placed in independent coffers. He accused the government, which he served till July 2013, of corruption and mismanagement of oil money.

President Salva Kiir’s government, however, rejected Dr Machar’s proposals of an independent body to monitor oil revenues and said that if allowed, it would amount to a violation of the country’s sovereignty.

Media reports and the UN Security Council indicate that the money borrowed from oil firms, especially Chinese firms, being used to purchase arms, a claim President Kiir’s government denies.

The economic crisis, and the government’s inability to pay some of its civil servants and the army, has led to shootings in military barracks among South Sudanese soldiers, and also between South Sudanese soldiers and Ugandan troops over what the former claim is special treatment of the latter, at their expense. This has prompted fears of a mutiny.

The South Sudan government is not only afraid oil companies will soon run out of patience, but regional governments as well.

Joint regional infrastructure projects such as the Lamu Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor and the standard gauge railway are halted. The construction of several major roads linking South Sudan to the region have also stalled.

Defiant Juba to issue oil contracts
There have been fears that proceeds from oil will be used on military spending in the power struggle between President Salva Kiir and former deputy Riek Machar, who was sacked in July last year.
Concessions for blocks B1, B2 and B3 located mainly in Jonglei and Lakes States are believed to be under negotiation. The states are among those most affected by insecurity.
Since the outbreak of conflict, oil revenues have reportedly been diverted to finance the war instead of going towards infrastructure and social programmes.

South Sudan has said it will continue issuing new oil contracts despite concerns by a global watchdog on natural resource use that the deals could be used to aggravate the conflict that broke out in December.

Petroleum and Mining Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau said oil was the backbone of the Juba economy and suspending issuance of new contracts for prospecting and drilling activities would hamper growth.

“We do not agree that a moratorium on petroleum contracting is at this time in the best interests of the citizens of South Sudan,” said Mr Dau.

Global Witness, which investigates the role of natural resources in funding conflict and corruption, had in June asked the government to suspend new contracts and review existing ones until peace and the rule of law are restored.

Mr Dau, in a letter to the London-based non-governmental organisation dated July 8, said that South Sudan’s budget was too dependent on oil production.

“Even while we seek to diversify our economy and attract investments in new industries, we foresee the oil industry remaining a substantial, if not predominant sector of our economy for a number of years,” wrote Mr Dau.

Global Witness had recommended a halt in issuance of new exploration and production agreements (EPSAs) including in refinery and transport until the Petroleum Act 2012 and Petroleum Revenue Management Bill are enacted and operational. It said reports of human rights abuses by both sides, particularly in oil-producing areas, needed to be investigated and those found guilty held to account.

Concessions for blocks B1, B2 and B3 located mainly in Jonglei and Lakes States are believed to be under negotiation. The states are among those most affected by insecurity.

“If contracts for these concessions are granted, companies would need to employ armed security forces. In a region home to high numbers of military and militias, a further influx of armed actors could worsen the conflict,” said Global Witness.

Since the outbreak of conflict, oil revenues have reportedly been diverted to finance the war instead of going towards infrastructure and social programmes. END

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) knows by now that South Sudanese warring parties are not going to sign any peace agreement soon unless severe sanctions are imposed on prominent figures on both sides.

On January 23, the two parties signed Cessation of Hostilities agreement. This was violated within hours of its signing and soon after the parties started to trade accusations as to who violated it. Bizarrely, it’s always the other side that violates the agreement.

Then on May 9, the two leaders signed a Ceasefire Agreement and expressed commitment to end this war, calling it ‘senseless’. This agreement too was violated. And then in June the two leaders committed themselves to form a transitional government within 60 days. The deadline, which was August 10, passed without any hope of peace agreement in sight.

This is a clear indication that the warring parties neither care about the people of South Sudan nor do they have any respect for all the Nations and organizations mediating in Addis Ababa. Dr. Riek Machar and President Kiir are clearly taking IGAD and the whole world for fools!

As long as these leaders continue to break their promises as the people of South Sudan suffer without any consequences, they’ll never sign any peace agreement.

Besides, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, sent to South Sudan United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay and Special Advisor on Genocide Prevention, Mr. Adama Dieng, in May of this year.

After coming back from South Sudan, Mr. Dieng presented before the United Nations Security Council the gruesomeness of the situation, the suffering of the people and how the world can’t afford to wait. Ms. Pillay expressed how little compassion and care both leaders showed towards the suffering of South Sudanese citizens.

And on August 12, 2014, the UNSC sent Mr. Mark Grant, the current president of the 15-member UNSC. Mr. Grant’s entourage included US ambassador to the UN, Ms. Samantha Power and Rwandan Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Eugene-Richard Gasana.

After talking to the two leaders, the delegation said that they were ‘disappointed’ by the two leaders as they showed little interest in signing the peace agreement and ending the suffering of South Sudanese people. It was very clear to the UN delegation that these two leaders are not interested in peace and their own people! It’s all about power and top jobs!
(Watch my video commentary on www.youtube.com/kuirthiytv)

So the two leaders are not to be trusted as they’ve broken their promises time and again; they’ve shown to the world and the UNSC that they don’t care about the people; and they have no interest in ending the war.

It just makes me wonder what other proofs UNSC needs to impose real, affecting sanctions on the two parties.

Should half the population of South Sudan die for UNSC to impose sanctions on the leaders? Is there something of a trust left between South Sudanese leaders and UNSC?

Unless UNSC imposes severe, effective sanctions now, the people of South Sudan will continue to suffer and die. The May sanctions USA imposed on Peter Gatdet Yak and Marial Chanuoong were a mere joke. They were a clear mockery of South Sudanese people.

In addition, EU Sanctions, in July, on Peter Gatdet and Santino Deng were the same: pure mockery. I believe they are pure mockery of the suffering South Sudanese civilians because they can never, ever change the dynamic of the war.

I hope the UNSC imposes effective sanctions unlike USA and EU. This is the time for UNSC to show practical care for the people of South Sudan. SANCTIONS NOW! SANCTIONS THAT ACTUALLY WORK!

Kuir ë Garang is a South Sudanese author and poet. His latest book is “South Sudan Ideologically.” For contact, visit www.kuirthiy.info

QUOTE: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” ~ Desmond Tutu

BY: Chuol C. Puoch, JUBA, AUG/14/2014, SSN;

After the eruption of fighting in Juba and later to other areas of South Sudan, the region had in the first place made a “look-on” moment, before their intervention was prompted by the visit of other outside world especially the visit of US and Nigeria on the 22nd December 2013, few days after the outbreak of the fighting.

While the region was wondering, looking on and confused with evil plans on how to utilize the conflict in South Sudan, Uganda (as part of the region) intervened and sided with the government of Kirr warning the opposition leader to surrender or else be hunted and destroyed within a period of four days.

Other Countries in the region including Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan were reached and asked for their interventions by the world, while they were also interested in formulating some ideas to utilize the situation not merely involving to stop the war.

Due to the international pressure on them to impartially intervene, they came up, at last, to try and contain the situation and bring the warring parties to a negotiating table through their organization, IGAD.

After the intensification of calls and demands from the world in trying to restore peace, Machar stated it clearly that he would accept negotiating with government if they release his comrades in prison in Juba accused of attempted coup alongside Machar himself.

The region was likely in support of the idea of releasing those political prisoners, while holding their hidden agenda of forming a government of national unity under the leadership of those in prison. No one knew that the former detainees would attempt to turn their back to Machar after advocating and demanding their release through many regional and international leaders and institution.

However, it has been made clear by the action of IGAD after the release of the former detainees, that they want those former detainees abandon Machar and form their own block, and the IGAD will help them succeeding their objective of leading the interim government that is in the plan to be formed.

Why IGAD is a part of those obstructing peace in South Sudan:

In their roles and capacity as mediators, they are not, in any case, capable or mandated to impose any idea that is not in the interest of both parties; Their roles is to mediate and push the warring parties to come to comprising solution and define and agreed on the ways forward. It’s also the role of the mediator to control the external factors that are escalating the conflict as well as ensuring what is agreed upon on the table is implemented on the ground.

In the process of mediating generally, the mediators take the following responsibilities while mediating the warring parties:
(1) The mediator may assist in contacting the other party (ies) to arrange for an introductory meeting.
(2) The mediator act as an educator and educates the parties about the mediation process, other conflict resolution alternatives, issues that are typically addressed, options and principles that may be considered, research, court standards, etc.
(3) The mediator seeks to ensure that each party is fully heard in the mediation process by facilitating it.
(4) In the event that there is need for translation in the mediation, the mediator can help by rephrasing or reframing communications so that they are better understood and received. (5) The mediator probes issues and confirms understandings to ensure that the participants and the mediator have a full understanding.
(6) The mediator comes to be trusted to suggest procedures for making progress in mediation discussions, which may include caucus meetings, consultation with outside legal counsel and consultation with substantive experts, and not attempt to impose those suggestions to the parties but suggest them.
(7) The mediator can act as an Angel of Realities by playing devil’s advocate with one or both parties as to the practicality of solutions they are considering or the extent to which certain options are consistent with participants’ stated goals, interests and positive intentions. And some other minor responsibilities like setting the rules, arranging the venue and availing the needed resources for the mediation.

Hence, IGAD have been acting out of their duties and mandate and have tried several time to impose their own wills on the parties, they have failed to ensure the implementation of what is written and agreed upon by the parties in the conflict.

For instance, on 23rd of January 2014, a CoH agreement was signed and the part of that document was the withdrawal of foreign fighter invited by either side in the conflict.

It was a role of IGAD to ensure the implementation of what is written and agreed upon. Up to this time, IGAD failed to ensure the withdrawal of forces invited during the conflict: UPDF are still in South Sudan up to now, many other Sudanese rebel factions are up to this date present in South Sudan.

If that is what IGAD is supposed to have done, why is it not done?

In the ground of finding the truth by analyzing it, we always differ and each and everyone come up with almost completely different opinion and analysis of the situation. But I guess with the case of IGAD, truth is obvious and doesn’t require more analysis that may result differently.

The simple and obvious reason I can give is that, IGAD is planning by all mean to solve the conflict of South Sudan by imposing their own wills. If UPDF withdrew from South Sudan those days back, Salva Kirr’s government would have collapsed and the opposition forces under Dr. Riek Machar would have taken the leadership and the conflict would have come to an end.

However, despite public interest on Dr. Riek to become their leader, IGAD wants to impose the disgruntled politicians currently known as G10 (former Detainees) to take over the leadership of the expected GoNU, a plan that will never succeed.

It was last month when IGAD unnecessarily postponed the peace talk for one month, simply because both parties do not want the other stakeholders, including the former detainees, to be part of the peace agreement. Both parties accepted that the other stakeholders would get involved later when it comes to the drafting and formation of the GoNU – a demand which is clear and realistic.

IGAD are no different with the warring parties; in fact, they are part of the political struggle in the conflict of South Sudan because they have their political agenda – bringing the person of their own choice to lead the interim government, just like the two warring parties who are also struggling to lead the interim government.

How will the problem be solved, when IGAD has chosen to be an opponent of both side and deceiving the world that they are mediating, when in fact they are struggling for power?

US has been badly deceived, both by the mediators and the government of South Sudan, that the SPLA – IO are violating the signed CoH by attacking Nasir town. During the attacks, the MVT of IGAD were in Nasir and condemned the attack, while in fact, they had given the SPLA – IG a go ahead to destroy the base of Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth in Jigmiir.

John F. Kerry forgot the massacre that the innocent Nuer civilians and others have gone through, by calling Salva kirr a legitimate president! By the way, I should say John Kerry was in the ground of telling nonsense that day. He recognize how militarized his warlord friend (Kirr) is by saying “the cameras are sounding like machine guns” (Kirr’s machine guns).

And still, he is condemning and warning those who had volunteered and sacrificed themselves to prevent the innocent lives that Salva Kirr would have maimed after finishing many in Juba in December.

Chuol C. Puoch is a South Sudanese living in South Sudan and can be follow/added on his facebook with his name above, on twitter @chuolchot and via email: chuolchotson@gmail.com

PETITION TO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN,
H.E 1ST GEN. SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT – JUBA.

CC: VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC,
HON. JAMES WANI IGGA
SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HON. JAMES MAGOK RUNDIEL
SPEAKER OF THE COUNCIL OF STATES, HON. BOL CHAN
MINISTER OF JUSTICE, NATIONAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
UNMISS – DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
AUG/14/2014, SSN;

Subject: CRIMES OF 1st DEGREE DONE IN THUYIC COMMUNITY’s VILLAGES; FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SOUTH SUDANESE HISTORY – A STORM IN HOT TEA CUP!

In tears, we write to Your Excellency, so that you may come to our aid!

What has gone wrong in Thuyic Community’s villages and its surroundings?

On the faces of Maleng-agok’s thousands displaced persons (crowded into Rumbek town inner courts and bushes of Ror-nhom), one discerns physical hunger, sadness and deep-seated fear.

On behalf of Thuyic Community of Maleng-agok Payam, we, the undersigned youth members and representives do hereby make to send our condolence message to bereaved family members of Chut Dhuol Mathiang and Joknyang Sub-clan in Athoi of Aliemtooc one, and on this same token, we also author to denounce the uncalled for action by our brother and son of late Chief Maker Mabor Riak, who without any knowledge of his own brothers and Thuyic as a community did this trivial act of revenge on late Paramount Chief Aparer Chut Dhuol on the night of 5th August 2014. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE!

We want to make it crystal clear to all Gony community members in Lakes state, South Sudan, and outside that this revenge killing of late Chief Aparer Chut Dhuol has no approval of Thuyic Community, and even within the family of late Chief Maker Mabor Riak, who if he were to live again, he won’t too have endorsed of this retribution, and this was manifested on the morning of 7th August 2014, when Gony, and their allies matched onto Thuyic Community’s villages of Akukuel, Maleng-Agok, Makuac, Panbar-kou, Gorok, Malual, Bilieng-mei, Ayen-Paciec, Malith, and Makuaar massively armed with 23 PKM automatic weapons and hundreds of AK 47 rifles.

As we probe the incident and embark on getting the culprit (s) to account, we were dumb-founded and appalled by acts of rapes, looting of housing properties including food plates and anything of family food that Gony youths and their allies lay their hands on.

Genesis of the matter that transpired to today’s retribution killing–for knowledge of far readers beyond our borders, and other South Sudanese.

Cattle youth leader of Thuyic Community called Bec Dong Manguen was first murdered in cold blood by the cattle youth that hailed from late Chief Aparer Chut Dhuol. Information leaked out that it was today’s late chief Aparer Chut Dhuol that masterminded the killing. The present Governor was too accused of having made an assurance of his military rank, when his today’s late brother elder son questioned their plan and informed them that he will be the next target once the Thuyic cattle youth leader is slain. Indeed, on September 17th 2001, Bec Dong Manguen was round up and killed.

The relatives of late Bec Dong Manguen did not react immediately, appeased by the assurance of the then authorities when the current MP of Eastern Rumbeck County was the Commissioner and the current Governor as an area commander.

From 17th Sept. 2001 – 3rd August 2002, nothing was done for the blood of the decease, and culprits supposed to be for arrest in Rumbeck prison were able to roam Rumbeck town and dance with their peers. This annoyed the relatives of late Bec Dong of Thuyic, and they retaliated on 4th August 2002 with killing of Jafar Aparer Chut Dhuol.

The present General Inspector of Police, who was then a senior commander of SPLA, was dispatched to settle the problem in Sept. 2002. All the murders from both sides were sentenced to fire squad. That concluded that period. The situation was again detonated by Gony member of the section whose brother was got killed in the battle by avenging on Tur-agau Makoi Ayuek April 2008 from Thuyic. That incident again triggered another wave of violence till October 2012 when the two communities again reached Peace. Again on 5th Aug. 2014, late Chief Maker Mabor Riak’s son retaliated on Chief Aparer Chut Dhuol when Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol is a Governor. Can anything tangible come out! You are the judge!

For the past eleven years of this repeated conflict between Thuyic and Gony sections of Athoi, there was no one time that Thuyic would act as this, and run to hide.

We deplore the mentality and essence of the rape: The most injurious act

But, Mr. President, we compose this petition, for we are very much saddened and bewildered by the following atrocities committed in Thuyic Community’s villages of Maleng-agok Payam against our most innocent women and girls.

1. On the night of 6th and 7th August 2014, a shameful looting of goats, sheep, mattresses, bed-sheets (any housing property), and went on rampage to shattering of wooden beds happened in Akukuel, Maleng-agok, Panbar-kou, Makuac, and Gorok villages.

2. All milking cattle at homes for children were raided and taken away.

3. And on the nights of 6th and 7th August 2014, the unthinkable was done – the raping of eleven women and two girls (confirmed cases) – many currently admitted in Salva Kiir Mayardit Women Hospital in Rumbek Town. Their names are withheld for confidentiality.

4. On the same day of 7th August 2014, two schools of Maleng-agok community of Gorok and Panbar-kou Girls Primary school, built with donations of Italian Government, and European Union has been vandalized with all its all 1,120 teaching text books, exercises, chairs, tables, cooking utensils, and one tailoring machine, all looted or tore into pieces.

5. On the night of 10th August 2014, the joint forces, which were for disarmament process meant for Lakes state, were ordered to search for the culprits, however, they ended up torturing and beat up all women in Ror-nhom villages of Ayen-Paciec, Malith, Makuaar and nearby areas.

6. All Thuyic cattle have been driven off from their villages and cattle camps to Aduel, Eastern Rumbek County Headquarters’, and even those residents, who are in Atiaba Payam area of Pan-Ater Malek! The argument of this action is said to be a means of bringing to books the culprit(s). The old, (men & women) children dependent on these cattle are exposed to all sorts of hazardous cold, malaria, & starvation from rains & mosquitoes. No relatives to take of them for fear of risks of physical torture and rape.

7. On 13th August 2014, the other remaining cattle of Thuyic have been driven to Lang-cok Military barrack. Lang-cok has been known as one notorious military prison in Lakes state during 2012 – 2013. It was said that it has been closed down. Here comes again its revival as collection point of Thuyic cattle wealth. Isn’t it that this is the most painful form of punishment that has been done to Thuyic Community with raping of their women? Why would Governor of Lakes think that taking all cattle of Thuyic is the best idea? Isn’t it the same looting and destruction of property done in their villages by his Gony cattle youth continuing? Does this action conform to which law of our land? Remember, we are in an independent nation of South Sudan where laws are paramount in whichever situation or circumstances!

We want these culprits, who raped our ladies arrested and whose names are identified as:

1. Sebit Mapuor Chut Dhuol Mathiang
2. Chol Maper Chol Riak

From the victims’ mouths, they have identified Sebit Mapuor Chut Dhuol Mathiang, and his group, who gang-raped the two lactating women of Makur Adoldit in Makuac village of Maleng-agok Payam, and Chol Maper Chol Riak with his group to have gang-raped the two young girls.

They are days of sadness (Thuyic Community’s ladies raped), and that a cohesion of harmony that had existed for thousands of years has been finally broken, and at its thinnest stretch.

Thuyic, a community under siege!

The few women are either in hiding in the bushes of their villages being constantly terrorized at dust in their homes or they are in total dislodge from their homes. This situation has caused a serious panic, which is wide spread from both sides – that women raping is as a tool to fizzed off the other side so that they accept battle. It was meant as a thing for Thuyic youths to test of their manhood. But, maintained their stand for peace of 2012.

Governor’s efforts could be futile:

While it is an integral duty of the leadership of the Governor of Lakes State, Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol, and his entire government, the general situation seems highly tense with security void to control any further ignition from the side of the bereaved family or both. The signs we are witnessing are dare and very volatile for any meaningful restrains. We thus far, request your Excellency for an urgent high-level committee in composition of Justice Ministry, Human Rights commission, National Security Service, military committee, national assembly and Council of States to come and verify for themselves of what had happened, and to recommend more meaningful measures and of whose overall implementation would be from this composition so that situation is rescued or else a time bomb is on trigger any day or any hour from August 2014 and onwards.

Disarmament is as a mask of the reality and resources accumulation in Lakes state.

Lakes state has been a scene of hundreds of thousands of communal conflicts. The reality is the bad leaderships whose main goal is resources accumulation. Disarmament has been done here for more than ten (10) times, however, guns remain in the hands of civilians. No one has ever asked WHY? The answer is simple, a business and project of those within and out. This disarmament is very uneven in Aliemtooc with Gony cattle youths never touched or even asked to surrender their guns especially during this time of Gen. Matur in leadership! The Security Service can tell you Mr. President of this reality, and that they remain untouchable.

Culprits remaining at large!

It is becoming a culture in Lakes state that culprits remain at large and authorities aren’t able to apprehend them. The Rup Vs Kuei conflict. The most recent incident of the same nature is that of 1st Lt. Mayen Muorwel Abergut Reech (wildlife soldier).
We need the rape culprits round up and captured for questioning by the court of law.

We too call upon late Chief Maker Mabor’s son to surrender himself to Lakes state authorities. It wasn’t just half made decision of retribution without consequences. As a man, there is always a climax of any choice to make of the deed. Here comes a revenge of your late father, whose killers had made a choice of their action then. There is nothing to hide about. Be brave enough to yield in and accept the consequence of the undertaking.

Here began our nightmare!

When Police arrogant is seen in admitting only two cases of rape and ignoring others – Radio Miraya interview of 13/08/2014.

With nothing working out in Lakes state, Police inability has been one big setback in point in tackling communal disputes; that the Governor himself did try to stop their payments for two months starting February – May 2014 contending that, they were being paid for the job undone. Lakes State Commissioner of Police portrayed this attitude of no-job-done-by-the-police on 13th August 2014 in an interview with radio Miraya FM 101, when he said that there were only two cases brought to their attention, and nothing of those 12/13 cases that he has any knowledge. Yes, they have no idea because police is not abreast with troubles at hand in Lakes state! Isn’t this denial of real matters that Lakes state will not make any inch of stability? I am afraid that a nation with corrupt and dishonest police is doom to fail, unless a miracle happens to change the mentality and way of doing national concerns.

Call for an urgent Humanitarian assistance by UN agencies for affected people of Maleng-agok Payam:

Having been made homeless, forsaken and vulnerable during such heavy rains with every property either looted or destroyed, we call upon all UN agencies, International Organizations, and Community Base Organization to come to the aid of this community. Their entire livelihoods have been vandalized including clothing.

Our recommendations and ways forward to mitigate the looming situation

1. There is need for an urgent dispatch of high delegation to come and assess atrocities committed and what could be done to get the culprits of either act who revenge on late Chief Aparer Chut Dhuol.
2. That the rapists be apprehended at the quickest possible time to close the wide-open gap so that victims’ relatives’ annoyance be quelled timely.
3. There should be standing order for return of all looted cattle, goats, sheep and all housing properties.
4. And that all cattle taken from Thuyic Community’s camps and villages be returned to their owners till the committees recommend any possible compensation and any other measures as required.
5. Disarmament should be done by SPLA with direct command from Juba for it to be of any meaningful result or meet the intent.

We stand for peace, justice, unity, reconciliation and prosperity in Eastern Rumbek County, Lakes State and South Sudan at large.

May God bless Lakes state people for change of heart to forgive each other and bless South Sudan for peaceful co-existence and tolerance?

The United Nations Security Council is due in Nairobi on Wednesday for talks with East Africa’s regional leaders on South Sudan’s stalemated peace negotiations.

The top-level UN diplomatic delegation brings a pessimistic outlook to the Kenyan capital following what the council president described as “disappointing” discussions with South Sudan’s warring chiefs.

“We did not hear much from them that gave us hope that there would be rapid agreement in the talks in Addis Ababa,” said UK Ambassador to the UN Mark Lyall Grant.

“Both said they recognised there was no military solution to the crisis, but the two positions remain far apart.”

“Frankly, the Security Council is annoyed and angry at what has happened,” added Amb Grant, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council in August.

PUNITIVE MEASURES

“We underlined a very strong message that there would be consequences for those who try to undermine the peace process, and are not willing to put aside their personal agendas in the interest of their people.”

In their talks in Nairobi with ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), council members will discuss possible sanctions on those South Sudanese held responsible for continuing an eight-month civil war.

Igad said in May that it would consider initiating punitive measures if South Sudan’s belligerents failed to meet an August 10 deadline for forming a unity government.

That deadline passed with no sign of an agreement emerging from the talks in Addis Ababa.

The Security Council mission to East Africa comes amid increasingly urgent warnings that famine may soon take thousands of lives in South Sudan. END

South Sudan is archeologically believed to be mineral rich country in the world and in Africa in particular. It has enormous potential for oil, gold mines, animals and a fertile land, capable of satisfying needs for local consumption and exports. The country borders many countries which in a practical sense, gives South Sudan credible opportunities for trades and business operations.

With this realization, economists referred to South Sudan as an African food basket. The question then becomes when is South Sudan going to be an African food basket? Is this economic prophecy fulfil- able in South Sudan?

Indeed, one would hold an ambivalent position in this regards. We had the opportunity to demonstrate and portray this rich endeavor both to the world and to our own good -selves. However, the ruling elites failed at the very genesis of the making of our country. For example, they could not even manage to fairly distribute the ready-made resource (oil money).

Disgracefully, the amount of $20 billion since 2005-2013 ended in few pockets while the innocent heroes and war victims, languish in poverty. The country (South Sudan) as I write this piece; lacks medical facilities, roads, clean water, electricity and poor agriculture, etc. The nation is rated low as failed and one among the most corrupts countries in the world.

This brings me to my subject title, a mad rich man is never respected or taken serious. This is true of South Sudan‘s current situation. Observably, the country is now engaged in a needless war within herself. Each day the two unfortunate warring factions slaughter each other, destroy little individuals infrastructure buildings, kill and displaced innocents civilians caught on both sides of the conflicts.

In my view, these obnoxious actions qualified the present South Sudanese influential leaders, who in one way or the other, architected the current situation as mad men and women.

Stupidly, they are proud about the oil and other resources that they could not even manage to make good use of in terms of equitable distribution and infrastructural development. The oil in South Sudan instead of being regarded as a blessing from God to us, it is humanly now turned into a curse resource.

During the civil war between the North Sudan and Southern Sudan, we used to refer to then oil as blood oil. I remember the protest we did in Kenya so that Kenyans stops doing business with Sudan with oil.

Today, our oil is becoming a curse resource; it’s only benefited few bellies and secondly the oil now is being used to fuel this needless war. Both factions are selling future barrels of oil through agreements with unscrupulous companies.

This is robbing the next generations of South Sudan, who will live only to pay debts and have nothing to benefit from the oil. The present leaders have scared off friends and goodwill allies of South Sudan. As nobody respect a rich madman, so is South Sudan to the world.

The Author is John Adoor Deng, BA, BTH, MPRL, MPPP_current and Director of South Sudan Foundation (SSSF). He is reachable by emailing johnadoordeng@yahoo.com.au

In Washington DC, it was reported that it was business as usual in President Kiir’s camp after the US–African leaders Summit was concluded. Funny though, contrary to the well celebrated and published summit, the world is still laughing and making fun of President Salva Kiir’s naivety.

In the eyes of roaring international audience and flushing cameras, United States Sec. of States, John Kerry, called President Kiir a “militant” and he did noticed. Kerry has hyperbolically referred to shuttering cameras as “machine guns.”

United States was the host country, but its behavior reflects no formidable host. It remained complicit and ignorant as usual considering its stand and policy toward Africa and the so-called developing nations. The gruesomeness of this dynamic played out when Africa’s heads of States arrived in Washington DC for the US–Africa leaders’ summit.

For example, during Kiir’s photo ops with Sec. Kerry, Pres. Kiir was insulted and disgracefully treated with disrespect by the host nation. This is not the first time President Kiir’s administration suffered abuse in the US. In 2013, Kiir’s top officials were ill-treated and harassed as well.

For instance, Vice President, James Wani Igga and Foreign Minister, Marial Bil were stripped naked at the point of entry to the US on their en route officially to the United Nations even though, they had their diplomatic passports. Both were treated like thieves and criminals in New York.

As the saying goes, when you‘re naïve in politics, you will be made fun of and become a laughing stock at best. In Washington DC, Pres. Kiir was made fun of, abused and dehumanized like a war criminal.

In this respect, I believe Sec. Kerry has fed on the South Sudanese outcries considering Juba Nuer massacre on December 15th, 2013, where Kiir owned the blame.

Some may say Sec. Kerry made undiplomatic remark toward the President. However, the question is whether Mr. President knows that he was called a “militant” indirectly or not.

Precisely, this to say that President Kiir is not accustomed to any other sounds but machine gun, and this is perfectly true regarding his military career as a war general, while much greener to political twigs and turns.

In this regard, Sec. Kerry was reported to have stated that cameras’ shuttering sounded like machine guns when journalists were busy taking photos of a man who has butchered his own citizens. Kerry remarked that “this is like machine guns, isn’t it?” Naively so, Pres. Kiir responded “yes, they sound like machine guns.”

Yet, little does the President know that he was just being made fun of and called “militant” by his host. It was true that Kerry was referring to the troubled South Sudan of which Kiir owned the blame. South Sudan was rocked by machine guns since 2013 to the present.

Pres. Kiir squarely owned the responsibility. Therefore, Sec. Kerry was right. President Kiir acted out like a militant.

To put Kerry’s remark in context and honest perspective, Pres. Kiir has trained private tribal militias from his tribe. And on the 15th of December, 2013, Pres. Kiir was alleged to have instructed these militias to carry out one of the worse 21st century genocide ever. More than 10, 000 innocent Nuer civilians, women, elderly and children were massacred in Juba, South Sudan alone, based on their ethnicity.

Besides, not only did Pres. Kiir suffer insult in Washington DC from John Kerry, the President was also shamed by thousands of South Sudanese who took to the streets across United States and Canada.

On the 6th of August 2014, more than 6 thousand strong South Sudanese demonstrated across North America. From Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto in Canada and throughout the US and with more emphasis in the Washington DC, where the summit was being held, South Sudanese called on Kiir to resign to give peace a chance and stop bloodshed.

Elsewhere, protesters gathered in front of governmental buildings, but in Washington DC, they converged on the Freedom Square condemning President Obama for inviting a “ruthless killer.” The Protesters questioned President Obama’s administration intention and accused it of “flip-flopping” on South Sudan crisis.

SPLM opposition Diplomats in Washington DC
On August 2nd, 2014, top notch SPLM diplomats under Dr. Riek Machar Teny also arrived in Washington DC for the same purpose, the Summit. Thereafter, the diplomats will remain in US to enlighten the American public and President Obama’s administration about the nature of conflict in South Sudan and what really happened on the 15th of December 2013 in Juba which led to current crisis. The team will also further presents the SPLM’s position on the way forward to arrest the conflict.

The team was led by the former South Sudan ambassador to United States, Hon. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth. Hon. Gatkuoth painted a different picture of President Kiir and labelled him untrustworthy president and who “is looking out to the East, precisely to China.” An act Gatkuoth called a “hopeless betrayal” to the United States of America and friends of South Sudan, who had helped the world’s newest nation to gain its independence.

Gatkuoth mentioned that “Without Americans’ supports, South Sudan would have not gained its independence.” But, “as we speak, Kiir just bought weapons and got money from China.” Mr. Gatkuoth also accused unknown nations of hidden interests.

For Pres. Kiir’s presence in Washington DC, Ambassador Gatkuoth told the gathering of more than 3600 strong South Sudanese on August 6th that, “you should not be worried about the dictator’s presence in the land of freedom and the home of the brave.” “Washington DC is not Salva Kiir’s world, it’s our world.”

That being said the former Ambassador Gatkuoth is well versed with the Washington DC’s politics. He well fits in Washington than anyone else of his caliber.

Besides, Mr. Gatkuoth’s message to the world was clear and precise. He lamented, “For South Sudan to heal – for South Sudan to reconcile – for South Sudan to develop again, you cannot have Salva leading it.”

This is a resounding position and it has been echoed by many voices in South Sudan and across the globe. Many voices have stated that Salva Kiir has “murdered innocent civilians based on their ethnicity and therefore he has lost legitimacy to govern.”

Interestingly, it’s politics, who could have predicted that Kerry would have called President Kiir a hopeless militant. Well, hate it or love it, it’s what it is.

J. Nguen is a South Sudanese living in Canada. He can be reached at nyolgaar.com

I can’t understand how things are happening unexpectedly in this beloved nascent nation of the Republic of South Sudan. With patriotism, I want to be very softly impartial in giving you your parts of this mess and your state of ignorance in these crises. This conflict, to start with, has taken so many dimensions: ethnic, political, social, economic, diplomatic & personal dimensions and the list goes on.

However, in that regards, you MUST carefully have to react, fight and involve putting into consideration all the above mentioned aspects.

Many people even in the SPLM/A–IO have been ignorant about their fight; some of them fight choosing one of the above mentioned dimensions that the conflict has taken, which is not idealistic. I can’t talk about those disgruntled in the government, they are just feathers blowing to the wind direction, when the winds stop, and they will fall down.

Why am I reminding you about this? Well, I would rather say I have been frustrated, ashamed, bored and disappointed by some folks who are insolently supporting Salva Kirr on “No basis and logical reasoning.”

They answer questions with questions; advice with abuse, truth with fabricated lies, and the only word in their mind is that, Riek Machar tried to remove the government by force, a claim even the great Demokirratically elected Kirr’s supporters like Makuey Lueth have stop telling because no one accepts it in the whole world.

Moreover, I said sometime back in one of my articles that we may forgive Salva Kirr but God and the Country will not. So, be mindful as his supporter, that you are in the wrong direction toward ruining this Country and your opportunities of succeeding are almost nowhere to be found.

Supporters of a criminal and warlord like Salva Kirr are bad, or even dangerous than Salva Kirr himself as a person. You guys need to wake up as early as possible and eat silently if you are not ready to bring peace, democracy, federalism and good governance to our Country.

Coming to my point of writing this article, it’s a general reminder to all South Sudanese in government, in opposition, in neutral and in other parties that we are having and of course going to have, a huge amount of debt to be paid to foreigners.

Currently, apart from other sources of getting loans like World Bank, IMF, ADB and individual states, 1.6 billion dollars (USD 1,600,000,000) have already been borrowed from the oil companies. It’s also believed that the same or higher amount is owed to various individual states including China, Russia, Uganda and many other Countries.

Leave alone the destruction caused by this war of Salva Kirr, the frustration and lost of confidence in us (South Sudan) by our major partners like US, UK, Norway, Sweden, Japan and others will compulsorily make it difficult for us to stand on our feet once again and pay those debts to their respective owners, without support from the above mentioned Countries.

China is known for their unwanted population and their large dependence on foreign investment and especially in Africa. They have nowhere to survive apart from looting and taking the resources (Money) of African Countries with their cheap and less durable items and equipment.

They are currently in very dirty deals with Salva Kirr groups so that they take over the oil for two or three years while ensuring that Salva Kirr remained in power for that period of time.

In that regard, China will bring in its consummative machines to drain off the oil wells in this Country and move it to China, we may not have the oil in the near years to come.

Apart from China which is doing its business in South Sudan, we don’t have any other Country that will support us soon financially, economically and politically and as such, it’s worth mentioning that, all the debt made under the name of South Sudan will remain to be paid by South Sudanese.

The obstructed and spoiled relationship that we used to have with our major partners will need more effort to be restored; it will only be by the will of God that those oil wells in Unity and Upper Nile states will not be drained off by China through Kirr.

You must fully understand by now, if you didn’t understand so far, that Kirr is just messing up the Country and he will go! It will be you, me and others (South Sudanese) to pay the pride.

He know very well that he has lost legitimacy at all cause and the only solution for him is to use the natural resource that we have for his disgusting personal interest of ruining the future of South Sudan.

Is that what you are supporting? Is that what you are politically, economically and emotionally trying to achieve?

We must always try to shape our future from now by doing what is needed, convenient and nationalistic. Let’s leave the politics of tribalism, domination, segregation and come up with patriotic move from our very own spirit and soul, and not from our so and so.

We are currently having our simple slogan like that of Christians: “In the name of Jesus” and that of Muslim: Allah’wa’akber”. Ours is “Salva Kirr must go” period!

Chuol C. Puoch (ChuolB’riaal) is a South Sudanese living in South Sudan. He can be followed/added on his Facebook with his full name above, on twitter @chuolchot and via email: chuolchotson@gmail.com

There’s a big difference between proposing something and making it actually happen. Someone who proposes a given phenomenon and another one who actually makes it happen can both be credited; however, it would be wrong to confuse the correct contribution of each one of them.

Self-determination was first proposed by South Sudanese participants of Juba conference in 1947. Anyone who pretends to be the one, who initiated it, if he or she wasn’t present during that conference, is just abusing history.

Besides, Federal System for South Sudan was first proposed by leaders of the Liberal Party in 1953/54 and emphasized by leaders of Southern Federal Party in 1957, a year before the first general election in 1958. In that case, anyone claiming credit now is abusing History!

Dr. Riek Machar has to be very careful or else he’d be seen as taking South Sudanese for fools. We are informed and we know who did what and when!

We have to know that neither Dr. John Garang nor Dr. Riek Machar initiated the idea of Self-determination. It was first initiated when they were either little boys or not born.

Since SPLA doctrinal core was not for the total liberation of South Sudan, any talk of Self-determination between 1983 and 1991 landed one in hot water. Those who wanted independence of South Sudan, such as Akuot Atem de Mayen, Abdalla Chuol and Gai Tut, were vilified by Garang and his core supporters.

These three men were seen as anti-revolutionary and were vilified in ‘revolutionary songs’ even if they took up arms before John Garang: twice!

Independence of the South was their core objective; something John Garang didn’t see as the primary goal of the Southern cause.

Remember, Garang wasn’t actually against South’s independence. He just didn’t think it was the right way to go about things. So self-determination wasn’t first among Garang’s ideological fronts. However, it would become one of the alternative solutions to the Sudanese problem in his famous Vend-Diagrams.

However, it has to be remembered too that Riek’s and Lam’s rebellion brought Self-Determination back into the spotlight and the mainstream political discussion all over Sudan. The duo first proposed it to Khartoumers in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1992 and later forced it through the throats of SPLA-Torit (Mainstream) in Abuja I in 1992.

Dr. John had to instruct his delegation in Abuja to accept Self-Determination to the surprise of not only the Nasir Duo but also, Garang’s allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

While Riek can be credited as having participated in bringing back Self-Determination into the Southern mainstream politics, it wasn’t Riek Machar who made it possible. Riek’s attempts failed with the failure of Nasir programs and his subsequent return to Khartoum where his only success was shameful exit and eventual return to SPLM/A under Dr. John.

Riek signed Khartoum Peace Agreement in 1997 with Beshir but that agreement was dishonored and there was no Self-Determination given to South Sudanese. Dr. Riek could have been right had Khartoum Peace Agreement brought about Self-Determination and Independence of South Sudan.

While Garang didn’t bring back the idea of Self-Determination, he was the one who made Self-Determination possible. Riek initiated the idea however; he had neither means nor political strength to bring it about. We all know Self-Determination came under the leadership of Dr. John Garang not Dr. Riek.

No one, at least conscientious ones, would deny Riek’s contribution to bringing back the idea of Self-Determination; however, it’s completely erroneous and deceptive of Dr. Riek Machar to say that he’s the one who brought Self-Determination and Independence of South Sudan.

Riek is wise enough to know where credit is due. He contributed, yes, but he failed in the path he’d chosen to bring Independence of South Sudan.

While many SPLM leaders contributed to the attainment of independence of South Sudan, it was Dr. John Garang who championed Self-Determination in the CPA and ultimately opened way for South Sudan Independence.

While President Kiir has now failed, he, together with Dr. Riek, was the one who saw that South Sudan become independent.

Riek and Lam reintroduced Self-Determination into the SPLM; Garang embraced it and championed it in the CPA; and then President Kiir made sure what Garang prepared was supervised to its logical end.